Motion estimation device, motion estimation method, and motion estimation program

Abstract

A motion estimation device executes motion estimation for a macroblock in a current picture, using pixel data of a reference picture in a multi-frame memory (504), including the following elements. A local memory (702) holds a part of the pixel data. The part is in a first range from which motion is estimated in first motion estimation, and read out from the multi-frame memory (504). A common motion estimation unit (704) executes the first motion estimation using pixel data in the part held in the local memory (702). A direct motion estimation unit (108) executes the second motion estimation using pixel data in the pixel data of the reference picture by an algorithm different from that of the first motion estimation. The pixel data used by the direct motion estimation unit (108) is included in a second range which includes the first range and is larger than the first range.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to moving picture coding, and more particularly to a motion estimation integrated circuit, a motion estimation method, a motion estimation device, and a motion estimation program which execute motion estimation for moving picture coding.BACKGROUND ART[0002]Recently, with the arrival of the age of multimedia in which audio, video and other data are integrally handled, existing information media, i.e., newspapers, journals, TVs, radios and telephones and other means through which information is conveyed to people has come under the scope of multimedia. Generally speaking, multimedia refers to something that is represented by associating not only characters but also graphics, audio and especially images and the like together. However, in order to include the aforementioned existing information media in the scope of multimedia, it appears as a prerequisite to represent such information in digital form.[0003]However, when estimating the ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0100]Accordingly, the present invention provides a motion estimation device that can execute direct prediction while reducing a cost of an internal memory, in a system that reduces a bandwidth for data transfer between the motion estimation device and an external frame memory, by providing in the motion estimation device an internal local memory having a memory capacity corresponding to a motion estimation range.

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, it is not realistic for the information media to handle such an enormous amount of information as it is in digital form.

For example, although video phones are already in the actual use via Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) which offers a transmission speed of 64 Kbit / s to 1.5 Mbit / s, it is impossible to transmit images on televisions and images taken by cameras directly through ISDN.

However, even if the local memory 702 is provided as an internal memory in the motion estimator 560, adoption of H.264 standard or an enlarged corresponding field angle causes a problem in a data transfer amount of the reference pixel MEpel. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing memory management for the conventional motion estimation.

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